JP3855634B2 - Vehicle steering device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a telescopic vehicle or tilt telescopic vehicle steering device that can adjust the axial position of a steering shaft and / or the tilt angle of a steering shaft in accordance with the driving posture of a driver.
[0002]
[Prior art]
For example, in a tilt / telescopic steering device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-278283, an upper inner column is slidably inserted and fitted into a lower outer column. A column side bracket having a telescopic adjustment groove is attached to the inner column on the upper side, and the column side bracket is configured to be in sliding contact with the inner side of the vehicle body side bracket having the tilt adjustment groove. A fastening bolt is inserted through the telescopic adjustment groove and the tilt adjustment groove, and an operation lever is attached to one end of the fastening bolt.
[0003]
Thus, when swinging the operating lever, the tightening bolt is moved in the axial direction, to release the sliding of the body-side bracket and a column-side bracket, vertically along the fastening bolt for tilt adjustment groove It is possible to adjust the inclination angle of the inner column on the upper side by moving and to adjust the axial position of the inner column on the upper side by moving the tightening bolt in the axial direction along the telescopic adjustment groove. .
[0004]
After tilt and telescopic adjustment, when swinging the operating lever in the opposite direction, the tightening bolt is moved in the axial direction, pressed in sliding contact with the vehicle body-side bracket to the column-side bracket, thereby, the upper-side inner The column can be tightened in a state after tilt and telescopic adjustment.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the tilt / telescopic steering device disclosed in the above publication, the inner column on the upper side is slidably fitted to the outer column on the lower side to increase the rigidity of both columns.
[0006]
However, since the upper inner column is not necessarily clamped directly against the lower outer column, when a bending load is applied to the steering wheel (ie, when the steering wheel is squeezed vertically). The inner column on the upper side sometimes moves so as to swing slightly, and the rigidity of both columns was not necessarily high.
[0007]
Although it is possible to increase the rigidity by providing a plurality of reinforcing plates on the column side bracket provided on the inner column on the upper side, there is a risk that the increase in the number of parts will cause the manufacturing cost to rise. is there.
[0008]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and provides a telescopic or tilt telescopic vehicle steering device that can increase the rigidity of a steering column while reducing the manufacturing cost. The purpose is to provide.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a telescopic vehicle steering apparatus according to claim 1 comprises:
An inner column and an outer column, which rotatably support the steering shaft and are slidably fitted to each other in the axial direction;
A vehicle body side bracket that has a pair of opposite side wall portions on the left and right and is fixed to the vehicle body;
A pair of left and right side wall portions disposed between the opposite side wall portions of the vehicle body side bracket and slidably contacting the opposite side wall portions, and formed by extending a telescopic adjustment groove on each of the side wall portions; Column side brackets fixed to the left and right sides of the outer column,
A tightening means having a tightening bolt inserted into the telescopic adjustment groove,
The tightening means adjusts the telescopic position of the outer column and tightens the side wall portion of the column side bracket to the opposite side wall portion of the vehicle body side bracket to perform telescopic position tightening, while releasing the tightening. In the telescopic vehicle steering device for releasing the telescopic position tightening,
The outer column is provided with a slit extending in the axial direction on both right and left sides in the axial direction intermediate portion, the slit has a notch extending vertically so as to intersect the axial direction at both ends, and the cut along the slit The column bracket is fixed in the axial direction on both the left and right sides.
[0010]
Further, a tilt / telescopic vehicle steering apparatus according to claim 2 is:
An inner column and an outer column, which rotatably support the steering shaft and are slidably fitted to each other in the axial direction;
A vehicle body side bracket having a pair of opposing side wall portions on the left and right, each provided with a tilt adjusting groove on each of the opposing side wall portions, and fixed to the vehicle body;
A pair of left and right side wall portions disposed between the opposite side wall portions of the vehicle body side bracket and slidably contacting the opposite side wall portions, and formed by extending a telescopic adjustment groove on each of the side wall portions; Column side brackets fixed to the left and right sides of the outer column,
A tightening means having a tightening bolt inserted into the tilt adjusting groove and the telescopic adjusting groove;
The tightening means adjusts the tilt / telescopic position of the outer column and tightens the side wall portion of the column side bracket to the opposite side wall portion of the vehicle body side bracket to perform tilt / telescopic position tightening. In the tilt / telescopic vehicle steering device that releases the stick and releases the tilt / telescopic position tightening,
The outer column is provided with a slit extending in the axial direction on both right and left sides in the axial direction intermediate portion, the slit has a notch extending vertically so as to intersect the axial direction at both ends, and the cut along the slit The column bracket is fixed in the axial direction on both the left and right sides.
[0011]
Thus, according to claim 1 or claim 2, the axially extending slit is provided in the axially intermediate portion of the outer column , and the slits extending vertically are formed at both ends of the slit so as to intersect the axial direction. because you are, the outer column can reduce the rigidity at ambient slit allows elastic deformation in the ambient.
[0012]
Therefore, when that tighten and adjust the telescopic position is in sliding contact with the column-side bracket on the vehicle body side bracket, it is possible to directly clamp the inner column by the outer column, if the bending load on the steering wheel is applied Even when the steering wheel is twisted in the vertical direction, the both columns do not move so as to swing slightly, and the rigidity of both columns can be remarkably increased.
[0013]
Moreover, it is a simple structure in which a slit is added to the outer column, so that the manufacturing cost can be reduced and the space can be saved.
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a tilt and telescopic vehicle steering apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a side view of a tilt / telescopic vehicle steering apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 1 and shows a state at the time of tilt / telescopic release. 3A is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 1 and shows a state during tilt / telescopic tightening, and FIG. 3B shows the outer column of FIG. It is a partial side view of a column side bracket.
[0015]
As shown in FIG. 1, an outer column 2 is slidably fitted to an inner column 1, and both columns 1 and 2 are configured to be tiltable around a tilt center (not shown). As shown in FIG. 2, a predetermined gap is set between the columns 1 and 2 when tilt / telescopic release is performed. The lower part of the inner column 1 is supported by the lower bracket 3 so as to be swingable.
[0016]
The lower shaft 4 and the upper shaft 5 are rotatably accommodated in both the columns 1 and 2, and the upper shaft 5 is configured to be slidable with respect to the lower shaft 4.
[0017]
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3A, a vehicle body side bracket 6 having a pair of tilt adjusting grooves 7 and 7 is provided outside the fitting portions of both the columns 1 and 2. The vehicle body side bracket 6 has a central portion on the mountain side and an overhanging member 8 having capsules 9 and 9 for secondary collision at both ends thereof, and a central portion on the mountain side and a pair of opposite sides on both sides. The substantially U-shaped member 10 which has the side wall parts 11 and 11 is comprised. The tilt adjustment grooves 7 and 7 are formed in the opposing side wall portions 11 and 11 so as to extend substantially in the vertical direction.
[0018]
A column side bracket 12 having a pair of telescopic adjustment grooves 13 and 13 is provided on the substantially lower side of the outer column 2 by welding or the like. The column-side bracket 12 includes a pair of opposed side wall portions 14 and 14 and a pair of fixing portions 15 and 15 to the outer column 2 and is configured in a substantially closed cross-sectional shape. A pair of opposing side wall portions 14, 14, the telescopic adjustment groove 13 and 13 are formed to extend in a substantially horizontal direction in FIG. 3 (b).
[0019]
Tightening bolts 16 are inserted into the tilt adjusting grooves 7 and 7 and the telescopic adjusting grooves 13 and 13, and a cam / lock mechanism 17, an operation lever 18, and a thrust bearing 19 are provided on the screw side. The fastening nut 20 is screwed through. The tightening nut 20 has a function of preventing loosening by caulking or resin coating.
[0020]
The cam / lock mechanism 17 is engaged with the first cam member 21 that rotates integrally with the operation lever 18, and the peak or valley of the first cam member 21 as the first cam member 21 rotates. However, it is composed of a non-rotating second cam member 22 that moves in the axial direction of the tightening bolt 16 to lock or unlock. Since the thrust bearing 19 is rolling friction, the operating force can be reduced.
[0021]
Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, a pair of slits 23, 23 are provided in the vicinity of the pair of fixing portions 15, 15 of the column side bracket 12 of the outer column 2. It is formed. As for the shape of each slit 23, the center part has extended in the horizontal direction in FIG.3 (b) along the telescopic adjustment groove | channel 13, and the both ends have the notch which extended upwards. .
[0022]
Or more of the tilt-telescopic steering apparatus thus constructed, when the secondary collision of the vehicle, and leave the capsule 9,9, outer column 2, the inner column 1, a steering shaft consisting of lower shaft 4 and the upper over the shaft 5 The assembly moves forward of the vehicle with respect to the lower bracket 3 together with the vehicle body side bracket 6.
[0023]
At the time of tilt / telescopic tightening, if the operating lever 18 is swung in one direction, the first cam member 21 rotates simultaneously, and the peaks of the first and second cam members 21 and 22 ride on each other. Accordingly, the clamping bolt 16 is moved in the axial direction, and the pair of opposed side wall portions 14 and 14 of the column side bracket 12 are brought into sliding contact with the pair of opposed side wall portions 11 and 11 of the vehicle body side bracket 6, thereby tilting and telescopically. Tightening can be performed.
[0024]
At this time, in the present embodiment, since the pair of slits 23 and 23 are formed in the vicinity of the pair of fixing portions 15 and 15 of the column side bracket 12 of the outer column 2, the outer column 2 has the fixing portion 15. , 15 can be reduced in rigidity, and elastic deformation at this point becomes possible.
[0025]
Therefore, when the column side bracket 12 is slidably contacted with the vehicle body side bracket 6 and tilted and telescopically tightened, the inner column 1 can be clamped while being directly pressed by the outer column 2.
[0026]
In FIG. 3A, the pressing locations (contact points) at this time are a total of three locations including the two locations of the pair of fixing portions 15 and 15 of the column side bracket 12 and the top locations of both the columns 1 and 2.
[0027]
As described above, in this embodiment, even when a bending load is applied to the steering wheel (that is, when the steering wheel is squeezed in the vertical direction), both columns 1 and 2 move so as to slightly swing. This makes it possible to remarkably increase the rigidity of both columns 1 and 2. Moreover, it is a simple structure which adds the slit 23 to the outer column 2, and can also achieve reduction of manufacturing cost and space saving.
[0028]
On the other hand, when the tilt / telescopic is released, if the operation lever 18 is swung in the reverse direction, the first cam member 21 is rotated with respect to the non-rotating second cam member 22 together with the operation lever 18, and the first and first The peaks and valleys of the two cam members 21 and 22 are engaged, and the tension is eliminated. As a result, the clamping bolt 16 is moved in the reverse direction to release the sliding contact between the pair of opposed side wall portions 14 and 14 of the column side bracket 12 and the pair of opposed side wall portions 11 and 11 of the vehicle body side bracket 6. Tilt / telescopic cancellation.
[0029]
In the case of tilt adjustment, the tightening bolt 16 is moved along the tilt adjusting grooves 7 and 7 and both the columns 1 and 2 are tilted to adjust the tilt angle of the steering wheel (not shown) as desired. Can do. In the case of telescopic adjustment, the axial position of the steering wheel (not shown) can be adjusted as desired by sliding the upper outer column 2 in the axial direction relative to the lower inner column 1. .
(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view (corresponding to FIG. 3 (a)) of the tilt / telescopic vehicle steering apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention, showing the tilt / telescopic tightening.
[0030]
In the second embodiment, the pair of fixing portions 15 and 15 of the column side bracket 12 are not inclined and are in contact with the outer column 2 from the lateral direction. One slit 24 is formed at the lowermost portion of the outer column 2.
[0031]
Also in this case, the outer column 2 can reduce the rigidity around the slit 24 and can be elastically deformed around this. Therefore, when the column side bracket 12 is slidably contacted with the vehicle body side bracket 6 and tilted and telescopically tightened, the inner column 1 can be clamped while being directly pressed by the outer column 2.
[0032]
In FIG. 4, the pressing locations (contact points) at this time are a total of three locations including two locations of the pair of fixing portions 15 and 15 of the column side bracket 12 and the top locations of both the columns 1 and 2.
[0033]
From the above, also in the present embodiment, the rigidity of both columns 1 and 2 can be remarkably increased, and the structure is a simple structure in which the slit 24 is added to the outer column 2, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost and saving the space. be able to.
[0034]
Other configurations and operations are the same as those of the other embodiments described above.
(Third embodiment)
FIG. 5 relates to a third embodiment of the present invention, and is a sectional view of both columns and a column side bracket, and a side view of an outer column.
[0035]
In the third embodiment, a notch 25 is also provided in the central portion of the slit 23, and a pair of flanges 26 and 26 are formed on both sides of the notch 25.
[0036]
Therefore, the inner column 1 can be reliably pressed by the two flanges 26, 26 formed in the outer column 2 in the axial direction.
[0037]
Other configurations and operations are the same as those of the other embodiments described above.
(Fourth embodiment)
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view and a schematic plan view of both columns and a column side bracket, and a side view of an outer column according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
[0038]
In the fourth embodiment, the slit 23 has the same shape as that of the first embodiment, and a gap 27 is formed in the center of the joint between the column side bracket 12 and the outer column 2 so as to form two axial directions. It is per part by the joint portions 28 and 28.
[0039]
As a result, as in the third embodiment, the inner column 1 can be reliably pressed by the joint portions 28, 28 at two locations in the axial direction of the outer column 2.
[0040]
Other configurations and operations are the same as those of the other embodiments described above.
[0041]
In addition, this invention is not limited to embodiment mentioned above, A various deformation | transformation is possible. For example, a low friction member such as resin can be inserted between the columns 1 and 2 and pressed.
[0042]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the first or second aspect, the slit extending in the axial direction is provided at the axially intermediate portion of the outer column , and the slits extending vertically so as to intersect the axial direction at both ends of the slit. since forming the outer column can reduce the rigidity at ambient slit allows elastic deformation in the ambient.
[0043]
Therefore, when that tighten and adjust the telescopic or tilt telescopic position in sliding contact with the column-side bracket on the vehicle body side bracket, it is possible to directly clamp the inner column by the outer column, bending load on the steering wheel Even when the steering wheel acts (that is, when the steering wheel is squeezed in the vertical direction), both columns do not move so as to slightly swing, and the rigidity of both columns can be remarkably increased.
[0044]
Moreover, it is a simple structure in which a slit is added to the outer column, so that the manufacturing cost can be reduced and the space can be saved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a side view of a tilt / telescopic vehicle steering apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 1 and shows a state in which the tilt / telescopic state is released.
3A is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 1 and shows a state of tilting and telescopic tightening, and FIG. 3B is an outer column and column side of FIG. It is a partial side view of a bracket.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view (corresponding to FIG. 3 (a)) of a tilt / telescopic vehicle steering apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention, showing a tilt / telescopic tightening.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of both columns and a column side bracket and a side view of an outer column according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view and a schematic plan view of both columns and a column side bracket, and a side view of an outer column according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Inner column 2 Outer column 3 Lower bracket 4 Lower shaft 5 Upper shaft 6 Car body side bracket (tilt bracket)
7 Tilt adjustment groove 8 Overhang member 9 Capsule for separation at the time of secondary collision 10 U-shaped member 11 Opposite side wall portion 12 Column side bracket (distance bracket)
13 Telescopic adjustment groove 14 Opposite side wall portion 15 Fixing portion 16 Tightening bolt 17 Cam lock mechanism 18 Operation lever 19 Thrust bearing 20 Tightening nut 21 First cam member 22 Second cam member 23 Slit 24 Slit 25 Notch 26 Flange 27 Clearance 28 Joint

Claims (6)

An inner column and an outer column, which rotatably support the steering shaft and are slidably fitted to each other in the axial direction;
A vehicle body side bracket that has a pair of opposite side wall portions on the left and right and is fixed to the vehicle body;
A pair of left and right side wall portions disposed between the opposite side wall portions of the vehicle body side bracket and slidably contacting the opposite side wall portions, and formed by extending a telescopic adjustment groove on each of the side wall portions; Column side brackets fixed to the left and right sides of the outer column,
A tightening means having a tightening bolt inserted into the telescopic adjustment groove,
The tightening means adjusts the telescopic position of the outer column and tightens the side wall portion of the column side bracket to the opposite side wall portion of the vehicle body side bracket to perform telescopic position tightening, while releasing the tightening. In the telescopic vehicle steering device for releasing the telescopic position tightening,
The outer column is provided with a slit extending in the axial direction on both right and left sides in the axial direction intermediate portion, the slit has a notch extending vertically so as to intersect the axial direction at both ends, and the cut along the slit A telescopic vehicle steering apparatus characterized in that the column side bracket is fixed in the axial direction on both the left and right sides. An inner column and an outer column, which rotatably support the steering shaft and are slidably fitted to each other in the axial direction;
A vehicle body side bracket having a pair of opposing side wall portions on the left and right, each provided with a tilt adjusting groove on each of the opposing side wall portions, and fixed to the vehicle body;
A pair of left and right side wall portions disposed between the opposite side wall portions of the vehicle body side bracket and slidably contacting the opposite side wall portions, and formed by extending a telescopic adjustment groove on each of the side wall portions; Column side brackets fixed to the left and right sides of the outer column,
A tightening means having a tightening bolt inserted into the tilt adjusting groove and the telescopic adjusting groove;
The tightening means adjusts the tilt / telescopic position of the outer column and tightens the side wall portion of the column side bracket to the opposite side wall portion of the vehicle body side bracket to perform tilt / telescopic position tightening. In the tilt / telescopic vehicle steering device that releases the stick and releases the tilt / telescopic position tightening,
The outer column is provided with a slit extending in the axial direction on both right and left sides in the axial direction intermediate portion, the slit has a notch extending vertically so as to intersect the axial direction at both ends, and the cut along the slit A tilt / telescopic vehicle steering apparatus characterized in that the column side bracket is fixed in the axial direction on both the left and right sides.   3. The vehicle steering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the column side bracket is joined and fixed to the outer column at two locations separated in an axial direction of the outer column. 4.   4. The vehicle steering apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a gap is formed at a substantially axial center of a joint fixing portion of the column side bracket to the outer column.   The vehicle steering apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the slit is further formed with a cut in an axially central portion. The pair of side wall portions of the column-side bracket are connected to each other, any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the column-side bracket is characterized in that it constitutes a closed cross section together with the outer periphery of the outer column The vehicle steering device according to one item.

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